Half-caste Disability Removal Act 1860
Half-caste Disability Removal Act 1860
Half-caste Disability Removal Act 1860
Half-caste Disability Removal Act 1860
Public Act |
1860 No 33 |
|
Date of assent |
3 November 1860 |
|
Contents
An Act to legitimatize in certain cases the issue of mixed blood born before Marriage of parents of the European and Maori Race respectively, subsequently married.
Preamble.
WHEREAS there are within the Colony many persons the children before marriage of parents, whereof one is of the European and the other of the Maori Race which parents have subsequently intermarried and such children are according to law illegitimate and incapable of inheriting Property: And whereas it is expedient to legitimatize such children as aforesaid,—
Be it therefore enacted by the General Assembly of New Zealand, in Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same as follows:—
I Short Title.
The Short Title of this Act shall be “The Half-caste Disability Removal Act, 1860.”
II Interpretation.
In the Interpretation of this Act the word “Maori”
shall include Half-castes and all persons of mixed blood of the European and Aboriginal Races, unless there be something in the context repugnant to such construction.
III Children of mixed blood born before wedlock of parents subsequently marrying legitimatized.
In all cases in which children have been born out of wedlock of parents, whereof one is of the European Race and the other of the Maori Race, and in which such parents have subsequently intermarried according to any law for the time being in force for regulating marriages or shall within twelve months from the passing of this Act so intermarry, such children shall be deemed to be the lawful issue of such parents and shall be capable of inheriting property, and shall have to all intents and purposes such and the same rights as they would have had if such parents had been legally intermarried before the birth of such children: Provided always that this Act shall not affect the inheritance of any hereditaments which before the passing of this Act may have descended to any person to the exclusion of any child or children legitimatized by this Act.